Dental powder dispenser



Aug. 6, 1940- o. M. POLKINGHARN DENTAL POWDER DISPENSER Filed Jan. 12, 1939 lNVENTOR 0rd .7". .20 17W W Y ATTORNE Patented Aug. 6, 1940 OFFICE M 1 2,.210,"z7c DENTAL rowDER DISPENS R I Oril M. Polld ngharn; Wyo.

Application January 12, 1939,-Serial No. 250,608

'5 cla ms; (ci.'2g 1+'- 6 2) "This invention relates to improvements in dispensingdevices especially of the type for dispensing dentifrices. A more particular purpose o'fthe invention is to enable the dispensation of dental powders in a clean, orderly and entirely non-wasteful manner. "''The popularity of dental powderdepends in some measure on the emphasis laid on its use by advertisers who attribute its value largely to the fact that professional dentists use it as a cleansing agent. Regardless of the merits of a powder cleanser the fact remains that it ispreferred by a large number of persons who, in the majority of instances, shake a little of the powder into the 16 palm of one hand whence it is taken up by the wet bristles of a tooth brush.

This mode of applying the powder to the brush is farmore economical than attempting to sprinkle the powder directly on the bristles. But in 20 each case there is a considerable waste of powder which is sought to be eliminated by the instant invention, the objects of which are as follows;- :First, to provide a dispenser for dental powder which enables the application of a given quantity' 25 of powder to the bristles of a tooth brush in such a manner as not to waste any of it.

: -Second,'to provide a dispenser which enables the application of a measured quantity of toothpowder in ribbon form. I 30 :Third, to provide a powder 'dispenser having the foregoing characteristics, which is readily ap plicabl'e to conventional types of containers, and

which is capable of being so cheaply constructed as to warrant the throwing away of the empty 35 container, thus avoiding having to shift or transfer the dispensing device from one container to another.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to 40 the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating the manner of use of the improved powder dispenser.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing device showing the plunger all the way back at 5 the beginning of a stroke.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the plunger in the same position.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line,

50 44 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3, but illus-.- trating the plunger at the other extremity of its stroke.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the plunger 55 barrel. I

In-carrying out the invention the container l is provided with-atop 2 which has a longitudinal slot}3 or equivalent opening. The container 1 is intended to be filled with tooth powder, but it may contain any other equivalent substance 5 which is capable of dispensation in the manner presently described.

r The slot 3 is covered with a barrel 4. The latter consists of an appropriately stamped metal piece, which'comprises a top 5, sides 6, bottom 10 sections 1 and end sections 8.- The sections 8 constitute a closure for one end of the barrel, the other end being left clear to provide a discharge opening 9. Said opening is situated slightly beyond-the end of the top 2 because of the projection of the barrel at 4a. This projection slightly facilitates the laying on of the powder ribbon inas'n'iuch as the position of the opening 9 can be keptin view.

Tabs Ill are included in the stamping, these being bent over theend sections 8 to secure the latter. Flanges i l are bent down from the confronting margins of the sections 7 (Fig. 6) and after these flanges are inserted through the slot 3 they are upset at l2 (Fig. 4) to securely fasten theibarrel 4 .to the top 2. The flanges l I thus form the main'partof a powder inlet l2a from the'container into the barrel.

It is to be observed that the barrel?! is rectangular in cross section. The result is the discharge of a cross sectionally rectangular ribbon 13 of tooth powderiFig. 1). It is also to be observed that the barrel is perfectly smooth on the inside, in other words, there is no obstruction whatsoever to the free back and forth passage of the plunger I 4. This plunger comprises a strip of metal which is sufiiciently rigid to prevent undue bending when it is pushed back and forth; The part designated I4 is actually the head which discharges the powder ribbon. It is slight- 1y ofiset at I5 to provide a friction surface against the inside of the top 5 of sufiiciently large expanse to prevent any free movement of the plunger when not in use.

The plunger head is part of a stem I6 which is slidable in and projects from a slit I! in the end closure 8. The stem I6 terminates in a fingerpiece l8 by which the plunger is capable of being pushed (Fig. l). The finger-piece acts as a stop (Fig. 5) to limit the pushing in of the plunger 60 head.

The operation of the invention is readily understood. In its initial position'the stem I6 is made to serve as a closer forthe powder opening I2w (Fig. 5). This function is, obviously, performed by pushing the plunger stem all the way in. The plunger head 14 is then substantially flush with the margin of the discharge opening 9, thus the plunger not only prevents powder from being inadvertently shaken into the barrel, but it also prevents the entrance of foreign matter into the barrel.

Upon desiring to dispense a quantity of the powder, the finger of one hand is held lightly over the discharge opening 9. The container I is thenturned upside down so as to load thebarrel 4, this being accomplished by the gravitation of the powder into the barrel. The finger tip over the opening 9 prevents the powder from prema turely sifting out.

The finger-piece I8 is now pushed upon (arrow a, Fig. 1), moving the plunger head l4 toward the discharge opening 9 Tooth powder is, commonly reduced to extremely fine particles, and

being such it is easily possible for the load of wdsrt be c mnactedti htl eno ghin he arrel by. he mo ion. of. t P u er head: l4. to make it talie the shape of the cross sectionally rectangular ribbon I3 Asthe finger-piece I8 is pushed uponthe entire container I, is moved es e o thbr sh. .9s arr w. ar a. 1) lay: ing the powder ribbon .l3 upon there xtremities of the bristles. Thisribbon takes the form of an n ken t k Oi. ow er he wholeoperati n being neatly and quickly accomplished,

The preferred cross sectiqnalshape of the rib-. bon isrectangular. Thispreventsany chance of its rollingoff of thebrush should the latter be tilted slightly. It will,be understoodfrpmthe foregoing statments that the entire dispensing device is made very cheaply,, Actually it con-. sistsv only of the barrel and, the plunger. No. solder or rivets are required in completing. the assemblage. Consequently the entire container. can be thrown away when emptied.

e barrel 4 is of such proportions that one operatien dispenses enough powder for one brush-. ingot theteeth. The same operation that causes the dispensation of, the pow.der ribbon 13 also i servestoclose the container because then the head M willhaye come flush withcthe margin of the openings, (Fig, 5.) and-the stem. I6. will have become superimposed upon the .powder inlet l2a.

I, claim: 1;, A dispenser fundamentally intended for. loose powder comprising a temporary and replaceable powder container having, an opening,

powder receiving means temporarily attached to the container in communication with the opening and in turnhaving a discharge opening, and plunger means freely slidable back and forth in the receiver means by manual effort to slightly compact a load of powder upon being slid in the receiver in one direction after the admission of a charge of powder from the container thus to eject the powder from the discharge opening in ribbon form onto a contiguous support.

2. A dispenser comprising a temporary and replaceable powder container'having an opening, repeatedly usable receiver means attached to the container over said opening to be in com- ,munication therewith, said receiver means having a discharge opening and an elongated powder 'inlet providing for a substantial filling of said receiver means, by appropriately tilting the container, and plunger means backing the charge of powder thus obtained and being operable in the receiver means for the ejection. of the powder charge at said discharge opening in ribbon form. ,7 3, Avdispenser comprising a powder container having an opening, a barrel having means securing it tozs aid container at said opening, and at the same time defining a powder inlet, said barrel having a discharge opening unobstructed from the outside, and a plunger operable back and forth in the barrelby finger pressure, including a head and stem respectively adapted to occupy and close the discharge opening and cover the powder inlet when in one position.

4. In a dispenser, a barrel adapted to receive a load of powder, having a discharge opening at one end and a slit at the other end, a plunger having a head operable in the barrel and a stem slidablein the slit, and an offset on the head providing .an expanse in contact with the interior of thebarrel to increase resistance.

5. In a dispenser, a container which is adapted to be manipulated by the hand of auser, a top attached to said container and having a powder opening, abarrel, on the top and communicating with the container through said opening, said barrel havinga discharge opening projecting beyond the top to insure the visibility of said opening whenand as the container is handled as stated and a plunger head operable in the barrel by finger pressure, being movable to a point substantially, flush with, the, discharge opening for the complete discharge of a ribbon of powder.

, ORIL M. POLKINGHARN. 

